Psychogen (Galactic Syndicate Cycle Book 1)

by N. C. Madigan

  Outside, the automatic streetlights switched on. The sun would set soon, and the two weeks of night would begin. Vely took a deep breath and looked around the room. In the kitchenette, the hotplate still sat where it always had, so Vely grabbed it and shoved it inside her bag.

  Beep. Beep. Beep.

  Vely frowned. The communication lync was blinking with a new message. She dropped her bag to the floor and sat down in front of it. She tapped in their password and waited.

  One new message. Unsecured connection.

  “Unsecured connection?” Vely whispered under her breath. “Who would do that?” Her finger hovered over the button on the touchscreen panel that said “Listen.” Finally, she pressed it, and waited while the screen went black.

  Slowly, an image began to form. It was a poor-quality message, either a bad connection or from very far away. Through the static on the screen, she began to make out a familiar face.

  “Liza!”

  “- stuck on a ship called the ‘Gypsy Star.’ One of the crew tricked me onto the ship and they left before I could get away. I’ll try to figure something out, Vely! I love you!”

  The message cut out. Vely stared at the black screen, her mouth hanging open. So, Liza was alive, somewhere in space. The button to “Return Call” flashed on the screen, and Vely jabbed at it, a little too hard, but it didn’t make a difference. In red, the words “No Connection Established” blinked on the screen. Vely groaned and dropped her forehead against the lync panel.

  “Shit.”

  She had one clue to her sister’s whereabouts - the Gypsy Star. But she couldn’t think about that now. The sun was nearly set, and she needed to find a hiding spot.

  Before leaving, Vely stepped back into her parents’ bedroom. She fished her mother’s hand out from under the blankets and gave it a squeeze. Melina’s hands were cold and stiff. “Love you, mother,” Vely said, steeling herself against her emotions. She tucked the hand back under the blankets and left the room, closing the heavy metal door behind her.

  Vely stuck her hand inside her layers of coats and felt the bulge of S-chips in one of the interior pockets. They were all hacked and ready to go, so at least she’d have a little money. Opening the door, she slipped outside and closed it behind her. Immediately, the biting cold attacked her face and hands, but she did her best to ignore it. With a glance, Vely noted that no one was around, so she crossed the street and ducked into an alley.

  “Umph.”

  A piece of metal garbage tangled itself up in Vely’s feet as she darted down the alley, and she landed on the ground with a thud. Her bag slipped from her shoulder and skidded across the alley. She landed on her hands and knees and grains of moon dust and metal flakes stuck in her skin. Vely untangled her feet and rolled into a sitting position. Growling under her breath, she brushed the debris from her hands and stood up. Her head was a little shaken up from the fall. “Off to a great start,” she muttered.

  Vely moved on, grabbing her bag as she passed by, and turned down another alley between two buildings. When she reached the end, she poked her head out from around the corner. A group of Enforcers stood several meters away, talking and joking with each other. The Enforcers who worked during the long night were worse than those who worked during daylight - they seemed to have more violence to unleash. She backed up a few steps and pressed her back to the wall beside her.

  “Now what?” she asked herself.

  A few metal garbage cans that reeked of spoiled soybeans and several roof paneling made a decent hiding place until the artificial morning. Vely pulled her clothes tighter around herself, wondering if perhaps she should have put on a few more layers before leaving the house. But it was too late now.

  Fishing around in her bag, she found the packages of prepared soybeans she’d made before leaving the house. They were really nothing more than mashed soybeans cooked into a flat biscuit-type texture, with a bit of seasoning that they’d had left. Vely nibbled on one, feeling the rolling hunger in her stomach subside a bit.

  After eating, Vely felt she might be safe enough to get a little bit of sleep. Curling up on the ground, using her bag as a pillow, she closed her eyes and drifted off to a land much different than the Moon colony that she’d always known.

  Heavy boots and shouting yanked Vely from her sleep. She wrenched her eyes open and blinked several times. The bright lights used to create artificial day were already shining. As she slept, the moisture from her eyes had frozen on her eyelashes. Brushing her sleeves over her eyes, she listened.

  “Those damn Enforcers broke my door down last night.”

  “Why?”

  “Cause their only purpose of existence is to make life hard for the rest of us. They stole my merchant badge, so I can’t sell today.”

  “Sorry, friend. Hey, bring some of your merchandise to my shop. I’ll sell it for you and give you the credits.”

  “Oh, thank you. Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Vely listened to these two men conversing, trying to stay still so they would not hear or see her hiding behind their garbage cans. How did she not hear the raid during the night, if she’d been sleeping so close? The thought scared her. Anyone could sneak up on her while sleeping if she didn’t keep one ear open all night. Vely stuck her knuckles in her mouth to keep her from grinding her teeth. The heavy boots faded away, as well as the conversation between the two men.

  It confirmed what Vely had already noticed about the Moon colony. The Enforcers were worse than ever, and the people were scared and angry. There would only be one result if anyone tried to stand up against the enforcers: a lot of Moon colonists would be dead.

  Even more reason to get off this rock.

  Vely’s curiosity got the best of her. During the commotion of artificial day, she returned to the location of her family’s apartment. She ducked into a hiding spot across the street and watched the door. She knew that by now, the stragglers who arrived late to the fields would be checked, and more than likely, someone would be coming to find the Stranges. It had been four days since her mother’s death.

  An Enforcer arrived at the door. His orange uniform stood out harshly against the dull metal sheen of the house. With one oversized fist, he rapped against the door, and waited. Vely bit her lower lip, waiting to see what he’d do. Another knock. A group of women hurried past, keeping their eyes averted from the apartment. Vely knew those women; they had been friendly with Melina and the girls. It wasn’t a farfetched assumption that the women knew Melina was dead. But now, they didn’t want to be associated with the Stranges. It could mean questioning, and possibly death by torture.

  The Enforcer grew impatient, and he pulled out a small device from a pocket on his belt. He inserted the device into a small port on the side of the keypad that served as a lock. Vely squinted, watching. He pressed a button, the keypad lit up for a moment, and the code flashed across the screen. Vely huffed in annoyance. At any time, an Enforcer could walk up to their door, use their device, and walk right in. Her frown deepened across her face. The Enforcers had too much power.

  The Enforcer forced the door open and disappeared into the gloomy darkness of the apartment. She heard him pushing over furniture and kicking things out of the way. A small thought passed through her mind, that she was grateful she’d hidden her books.

  A moment later, the Enforcer ran from the apartment and stopped in the doorway, looking around. The communication device in his ear lit up, and he tapped the small device with a finger.

  “1564-002, location, Strange apartment. One dead body, three missing.”

  Vely wrinkled her nose. They didn’t even know her father was dead too, by their own evil doing.

  “I’m not saying it’s a strange apartment, you halfwit. The Strange family!” The Enforcer sighed and stomped his foot on the ground. “578 west 12th alley. Apartment 3.” A pause as he waited, lifting his eyes up to the sky. “Yes, thank you. There is one dead body, and three are missing.” An
other pause as he waited. “Thank you.” The Enforcer tapped the comm device again and turned back to the apartment. He stepped inside the darkness and was gone for only a moment, when he returned, carrying Melina’s body in his arms.

  “No…” Vely whispered. The Enforcer dropped her body against the side of the house, then turned back and closed the door. Using a paint pen, he drew a gray X on the door. “Momma…” Vely cried. She lost her balance and bumped into a few pieces of loose metal siding, causing one of them to fall over. The Enforcer jerked his head up and looked around.

  “Who’s there!” he called. Vely shoved her knuckles in her mouth to keep herself from making more noise. She remained still, poised on her toes, waiting. The Enforcer looked around again, but his gaze passed by Vely without noticing her. He tapped his comm device once more and spoke.

  “Send the Hearse to 578 west 12th alley for a pick up. Thanks.” He looked around once more, his eyes hardened like meteors, but he continued down the street, the sound of his boots echoing against the metal structures. Vely released her fist from her teeth, leaving behind deep marks. She knew she couldn’t stand to watch the Hearse take her mother away, so Vely gathered her things and crept down the alley, trying to put as much distance between herself and her childhood home as possible.

  7

  The first few meals that Liza ate came back up into a bucket that had been placed at the side of her bed. Doctor D repeatedly told her to eat slowly, that her stomach needed time to adjust to appropriate amounts of food and proper nutrition. Liza couldn’t help it, though. She’d wolf down her portions without a second thought, at least until she was hurling.

  Several days passed before she was able to keep her entire meal down. Liza noticed the results as well. Moving, thinking, and her general health were much improved. It soon felt like a heavy fog lifted from her mind. Doctor D explained that having little to no food for long periods of time could break down the body. He promised that the ship’s cook, Corbin, would fatten her up so her bones wouldn’t show through her skin. Liza appreciated the words but didn’t fully understand what he meant. She had looked this way her entire life.

  Liza sat in a chair in the medical bay, when she had a visitor. Dominik, the ship’s Quartermaster, as Liza had recently learned, entered the room with a stack of clothing. Now that Liza was a little clearer headed, she was finally able to get a good look at him. She finally recognized him as the stranger who approached her near the Moon’s spaceport. He couldn’t be older than twenty-five. Liza couldn’t help but notice that he was quite attractive.

  “You’re looking well,” he commented, his eyes gazing over her still-thin frame. He used one hand to motion at her face. “Cheeks are a little less sunk in.” Liza self-consciously pressed her hands to her cheeks but noticed no difference. Dom suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  “It’s okay.” Dom set the pile of clothes down in Liza’s lap. “What’s this?”

  “A collection of old clothes we found for you in our rooms. Most are men’s clothes, but it’ll have to do. Do you think you’ll be up for a little adventure?” Liza arched an eyebrow.

  “...adventure?”

  Dom rolled a stool over from Doctor D’s desk and sat down in front of her. He pressed his hands together between his knees.

  “We have a little project to do, and Captain wants you to help,” Dom said. He gestured to the clothes in her lap. “Make sure you wear the hooded shirt. Your hair is pretty identifiable, so we’ll want to keep that hidden.” Liza shifted through the pile of clothes. There were loose fitting pants made of material that had been softened with wear, a few t-shirts and long tanks, a heavy coat, socks. “After this project is over, we’ll be landing at a traveler satellite, and Becce mentioned that you could buy some additional clothes there.”

  “I haven’t any money. That thing… er… Tsuto, stole my S-chip.” Dom’s eyes brightened.

  “Oh yeah, I have that,” he said, digging into his pants’ pocket. He pulled the chip out and handed it to her. “I was a little surprised to see it. Most people have them embedded in their wrist.”

  Liza wrinkled her nose. “Why?”

  “Well, for one thing,” he said, leaning forward to rest his elbow on his knee. “Not as easy to steal.”

  “I see.” Liza glanced at the S-chip sitting in her hands and thought about how there would be a lot less pickpocketing on the Moon if they had their S-chips in their wrist. But what other activity would occupy young kids’ time?

  “Anyway…” Dom said, filling the silence. “We’ll need you ready in a few hours. I hope you’re feeling up to it.”

  “Would be nice to know what it is,” Liza commented. Dom rose and smiled.

  “In time.”

  Liza eventually eased herself out of the chair and walked herself to the bathroom. Once inside, she picked out a few articles of clothing from the pile Dom had brought. She changed into clean black pants, then pulled on the hooded sweater over a t-shirt. The clothes were much too large for her, and the hood covered her entire head and most of her face. Liza was no stranger to ill-fitting clothes, so she took a few moments to roll the waistband of her pants and secure them with a wide belt from the pile of clothes. She rolled her sleeves inward to keep them from getting in her way. Another wide belt was in the pile, and Liza assumed they must have been Becce’s. Liza belted the hooded shirt around her waist, turning it more into a tunic than a shirt. It was comfortable, and she had free range of movement, for whatever this “project” was.

  “Liza?!” A female voice called from the medical bay. Liza left her clothes in the bathroom and stepped out to the medical bay. Becce stood at the door, wearing all black as well. She had a large knit hat on her head, with two flaps that hung down to her shoulders, and the brim resting just above her eyes, ready to slip down at any moment.

  “Nice hat,” Liza commented with a sarcastic smile. Becce patted her head.

  “My gran taught me to knit as a kid. I’m not good at it, but it passes the time during our extensive travelling,” Becce said without a hint of embarrassment. “Glad to see you’re ready. Come on.” Liza hurried across the room and followed Becce.

  Liza realized this was her first time leaving the medical bay since she’d first been brought in. There was much to look at while she walked, and Becce had to continually remind her to keep moving. Becce led her down a hallway and up a flight of steps. Becce stopped in front of a lift and tapped the button on the wall. A rush of machinery indicated that the lift had arrived, and the door slid open. The two women stepped inside and without any warning, rushed upwards. Dizzy with the unfamiliar movement, Liza pressed a hand to her head. The door slid open, and they stepped into the bridge.

  It was a large room with a table in the middle, surrounded by chairs. A three-dimensional hologram floated at the table, and holo-screens lined the walls of the room. Liza had never seen so much technology in one place. On the Moon, the only holo-screen she’d ever seen had been run by the field managers, who used it to harass workers who were not moving quick enough.

  Sitting around the table were a few people Liza recognized, and a few she didn’t. Doctor D and another larger man were sitting at one end of the table, disinterested. The other man, who looked like Doctor D, except for his disheveled blonde hair, had a stained apron over his neck and tied around his waist. Liza decided this must be the cook, Corbin.

  Dom and Captain Warwick sat at the other end of the table near the holo-projector. The hologram showed a map of a ship. The creepy guy who’d captured Liza was to Captain’s other side, his arms crossed over his chest and looking glum. Zimir. Liza felt a chill crawl up her spine just looking at him.

  There were two more at the table, and it took a moment for Liza to realize that she wasn’t seeing double. The two boys were identical, down to the smirks on their faces and the color of their wide eyes. They both had angular faces, with sharp chins and noses. The hair on their heads was green and spiky. Their hands twisted
anxiously, nearly mirroring the other’s movements. As Liza took the seat beside Becce at the table, two pairs of eyes turned on her and stared.

  “Hey new girl,” they said together. Liza tried to smile.

  “Weed and Speed. They man the guns,” Becce explained. She leaned slightly closer and whispered, “We think they can communicate telepathically, which makes them even deadlier as fighters than regular people.”

  Liza stared at them, somewhat fearful, as they both smiled at her with mouths that looked too large for their faces.

  “Cool hair,” they said together. Liza attempted another smile, but their wide eyes and unmoving smiles unnerved her.

  “Ok, quiet,” Captain Warwick said. Liza was thankful when the twins’ eyes shifted up to the Captain. “Liza, thanks for joining. Everyone, this is Liza. She’ll be our new cabin girl.” Silence followed his words as Liza waved awkwardly to everyone. “In two Earth hours, we will be approaching the merchant ship, Pluto, which is carrying precious resources to the Sun Stations. We’re going to intercept them.” Liza bit her lip. Intercept a merchant ship?

  Captain Warwick waved his hand and the hologram rotated so everyone could see the clear image of the ship. Liza had little experience with interior layouts of ships. The projection was a cross section of the ship, showing the levels and various known rooms. Captain stuck his finger through the holograph to a lower room in the belly of the ship.

  “This is where the goods are located.” He moved his finger up two levels. “This is one of the entrances that has a decompression chamber. This,” he jabbed with his finger, “is where Liza, Dom, and Becce will enter. During that time, the twins will be distracting the merchant ship with mostly harmless fire. After we’ve boarded, we’ll retrieve the goods and send them back to the Gypsy Star.”